The field of photography used to be a mystery to many, but modern digital cameras have made it much more accessible to everyone. The cost of film, processing it and being able to discard the originals was a costly venture, and cameras of the past were expensive. Digital cameras have eliminated the need for film, and there is no longer any cost to develop photos as they are saved within the camera’s memory card. While a professional digital camera is still expensive, it is a one-time investment that even students can generally afford.
Point and shoot are typically how photography is described, but there are many factors that go into getting a great shot. This is one reason is pays to take a photography class, and learning these factors will help students learn how to take better pictures every time they click. Framing a shot is one of the basics they will learn, and cropping will help them when action is more important than setting up and capturing the moment.
Light plays an important part of a great photograph, and many instructors focus heavily on this issue. They teach students the value of different light sources, and they outline how natural lighting can enhance or destroy a photo. Few students leave class believing that any light is okay, so they have a much better chance of building a solid portfolio if that is their goal. For those who want to become professionals, learning about light values is one of the most important aspects of the trade.
Digital filters are another facet of photography, and students need to learn how and when to use them. Some of them are important to use when the photo is taken, but modern electronic enhancement can make a solid picture incredible if the correct filters are superimposed after the shot is taken. These are just a few of the basics students will learn if they take a class in modern digital photography.
